Mrs. VanOrman was born Sept. 4, 1928, in the village of Chisholm, Minn., where she was raised and graduated from Nashwauk High School in Nashwauk, Minn. She had owned and operated various small businesses with her husband Stanley VanOrman before she retired in Santa Barbara, Calif. Shortly thereafter they moved to Clam Gulch in 1980. Mrs. VanOrman was a life member of the V.F.W. Post 10046, Ladies Auxiliary and of the Ninilchik Senior Citizens Center. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, reading and especially loved spending time with her family.

“Our Mom and Grandma absolutely loved everything about the rural lifestyle of Alaska. Dotty will be missed with all our hearts, but when her flowers bloom and the sun shines down on us, we will feel the warmth of her never ending love. Until we see you again Mom, Grandma, we’ll love you forever,” the family wrote.

Mrs. VanOrman was preceded in death by her parents, Theodore and Ester Suoja, and her husband Stanley VanOrman.

She is survived by her daughter and son in-law, Darelene and Michael Merlo of Kenai; son, Tom Shannon of Kenai; sisters, Florence Ray of Clam Gulch, and Joyce Schultz of Aitkin, Minn.; sister and brother in-law, Jean and Terry McColler of Nashwauk, Minn.; brothers and sisters in-law, Ernest and Jan Suoja of Homer and Wayne and Georgia Suoja of Tower, Minn.; granddaughter and grandson in-law, Tawny and Tim Osmar of Ninilchik; great-granddaughters, Nicole Osmar of Kasilof and Merissa Osmar of Ninilchik; great-grandsons, David and Daniel Osmar both of Ninilchik; and numerous nephews and nieces in Alaska and the Lower 48.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Dotty’s memory to Hospice of the Central Peninsula, P.O. Box 2584, Soldotna, AK 99669.